Making a Will – a professional will writer gives his advice

Hello I’m a professional Wills and Estate Planner working at Abbey Broadway and I passionately believe that everyone should make a will in fact I strongly believe that making will should be made compulsory at age 18 it’s estimated that at any time about 70% of UK adults do not have valid wills and I’ve […]

Hello I’m a professional Wills and Estate Planner working at Abbey Broadway and I passionately believe that everyone should make a will in fact I strongly believe that making will should be made compulsory at age 18 it’s estimated that at any time about 70% of UK adults do not have valid wills and I’ve heard all kinds of excuses for not making a will.

I’ve nothing to leave,

I’m too young my wife or

partner gets everything anyway

it’s too complicated I can’t decide who to leave things to

and so on.. in fact none of these reasons are actually true it’s vital to make a will so just do it.

As a Wills and Probate specialists I have seen the horrendous problems faced by surviving relatives when someone dies without leaving a valid will

Additional worry and stress family arguments, severe financial problems, loss of the family home unnecessary costs and even having to sue your own children

If you’re living with a partner but not married and your partner dies without a will you’ve no legal claim to their assets everything goes to their blood relatives and if your partner owned the house you’ll be left homeless and there’s no such thing as a common-law partner either.

If you’re married with children and your spouse dies without a will you’re only entitled to the first 250,000 pounds of assets the rest is placed in to trusts equal value for your children which they’ll inherit at age 18.

you get an income from one trust but nothing from the other and no access at all to capital and if your house alone is worth more than the 250,000 pound limit there’s an immediate problem you can end up suing your own children in court to borrow some of their inheritance.

For families with young children making a will is an absolute must if both parents die and there’s no will the court and social services will choose guardians for your children and while they sort things out they could be placed in foster care.

don’t assume that your parents brothers or sisters will get immediate custody if you love your children make a will right away by appointing guardians in a will you avoid this problem.

and if you have children from a previous relationship a will is vital to ensure that they benefit on your death if your partner remarries leaving your assets to their new family your children could completely lose out.

wills can also be really useful in reducing the impact of care fees and inheritance tax on your estate.

or protecting children with special needs by adding trusts.

Finally a will is an essential legal document and it’s vital to get it right don’t try to do it yourself what suddenly makes you think you’re a legal expert and don’t be tempted by either cheap internet wills or bargain will offers in the press.

both of which can often cause problems.. can you really get a properly drafted will for just 35 pounds be realistic expect to pay about 120 pounds for a basic single will.

Always use a will specialist to write your will such as a member of the Institute of professional will writers or the Society of Willwriters all Institute and Society members are highly qualified fully insured and operate to a strict code of practice which is Office of Fair Trading approved and remember many solicitors are not will specialists despite their claims always carefully check out the qualification experience of the person you use and don’t choose on price alone so now it’s over to you make your will without delay you owe it to your loved ones why not call us for our free information pack on 0800 368 9770